As I'm always looking on Ebay for software deals, I can't hepl but notice the "Photoshop Alternatives" and "Dreamweaver Alternatives" that people sell. Of course, it's nothing more than GIMP and Kompozer, but I can't help but wonder, is this legal? To be honest, I would love to be able to do something like this myself. Mainly because I honestly see these open-source programs as viable alternatives. I use GIMP, and for the price [FREE] Kompozer is decent. I could really get into "distributing" these (and similiar) programs. But, Like I asked before, "How legitimate is this"?
It's legitimate as it is not the software being sold technically, but it is the disc media and service of creating it that is sold. Basically, they can sell it as software etc, but at the end of the day, you are only paying to not have to google, download, and burn it yourself
That kinda makes sense. I'm sort of a freeware junkie and am always pushing programs to friends, co-workers, on forums. They're really are some good alternatives. But thanks for the feedback.
Sometimes these services may also bundle in a book, ebook, or additional addons or modules for the open source programs they are selling on the CD's they create. The appeal in buying CD's with open source software is in the work done on packaging it up and the "extras" that may get thrown in with it.
I think it's completely legit. I'm pretty sure as well that it's legally permissible to sell open source scripts on the net...
No, it's against the law to sell open source software. Anything released under the GNU act cannot be re-sold for profit.
Sorry but your wrong on that, there are various licences but none to my knowledge that allow you to sell on as your own. I may be wrong but don't think I am.
You last two lot are both wrong - like I said above - it is TOTALLY legitimate - though I imagine it is more time and hassle than it is worth. Hell, I just woke up to a nice payment for using the steps found in my sig. I didn't have to burn discs, didn't even have to sell anything lol. So, to me, it's too much work, but it IS legitimate to sell things that include freeware applications. And as timerchar said - it's usually the extras that come along for the ride. You can sell CDs of gimp for 500 bucks a POP legally - if you could pull it off - and all you have to do is sell it as training info with a convenient copy of the app. You CAN SELL OPEN SOURCE AND FREEWARE LEGALLY - you just need to be clever with words.
Let's hope you don't try selling my script when it goes open source, you'll need a lot more than clever words if you do.
Sorry, but this is not correct. You have to be very careful when you mention Open-Source, as it doesn't automatically mean GNU-GPL and doesn't even mean you can't charge money for it. You can charge 1 million if you want and if anyone is interested, as long as you distribute or even mention somewhere in the contract that you will be distributing the source-code of the software, that is why you call it open source. I had 3 lawyers on this before.
Girls, if you're going to leave negative rep, please do so, appended with your name, just to prove you have those big hairy bollocks you claim you do.
Well well... if you leave negative rep for people that state their position, then you should be playing elsewhere... +REP for Spider-man - Inputs are important, not noise.
Not unless you specifically say it cannot be redistributed - in which case it's not open source, and you're just faking it for the gimmick I can write a quick, dinky, crappy guide (not my style, just making a point) on how to use it and sell it, including your open source script as a free bonus. Dev C++ is sold like this ALL the time. In fact, if it's that big of a deal, point me to your script, and if it's worth a damn - I'll show you. Perhaps it will open a new door for you. This would be the first time I ever did such a thing, but believe me - it's legitimate because they wouldn't allow it on eBay if not.
Thanks for the lesson in law, the thing with thieves is they think they know the law but a barrack room lawyer will never stand up to a real one.
Jeez, why spend so much time working up an opinion on something that is a simple yes/no question? Each of the various OS/FS licence schemes has its own policy on buying and selling. Anything under the GNU/GPL licence can be resold. That's from the GNU website (*) And from the GNU FAQ(**): There are other licence forms of course, FreeBSD model, Creative Commons, etc. etc. etc. but the simple thing to do if you want an answer to a simple question like this is just look it up. Frank *http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html **http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html
posted by JamieG: That's super, I was saying is: it is not only allowed but encouraged to resell GPL-licenced software, contrary to what was said above. Other licencing schemes have other guidelines, and there's no reason you can't come up with your own, but if it's GPL, sell away. Note that vBulletin is not GPL, so not effected by the terms I quoted above. Frank
As someone said to me via p.m Frank, people will do what they want regardless of what we do. As I'm typing here one of my programmers said to me... and that's exactly what we plan to do.